Mara wrote:
Firstly, I want to thank you Zagman for the huge amount of work you have done in your valiant efforts to bring the utterly broken game closer to a balanced state. I've been thinking of something like this for quite a good time myself, but haven't had the time on my hands to start it, nor the needed knowledge to do it for all the armies. I like what you're doing, evening the gaps both inside the codices and between them. Keep up the good work!

Here's a list of my thoughts concerning the balance errata of SM/BA, mostly the latter as it is my main army.

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I think that Captain Tycho is currently somewhat obsolete at 130pts (DC version +15pts), as he has lost his ld buff and S:User AP2 armorbane melee attacks, and now only totes his relic combi-melta and digital weapons - not even a chainsword to give him a +1A in combat. He could be discounted further (at least digital weapons went down 5pts), or be given back his old badass melee attacks (he's still footslogging), in which case I would even be fine with a price increase (up to 150pts I think).

Chaplain Lemartes should be at least be made similiar to many other unit leader characters - if he is taken alongside a unit of Death Company, he shouldn't take up a whole elites slot by himself. Pointswise I think he is fine when given the same price drop as the regular Chaplains (good bye Reclusiarchs ).

Astorath the Grim would be in order for the chaplain price drop too, also because his axe is no longer S6 AP2, two handed, forcing re-rolls on invulnerable saves, but rather just a power axe, two handed, with the instant death USR on a roll of '6' to hit, decreasing his reliability against characters with a proper invulnerable save and average strenght when hitting. The axe could be S:+2 AP2, two handed, with either the old inv. re-rolling or the current ID on '6' to hit. Or maybe a regular power axe, but two handed and with ID USR - would that be too good?

I think that Sanguinary Priests should be able to upgrade to terminator armor for equal cost as other characters.

Also, I would suggest that the regular Terminator Squad would be given the option to carry the Company Standard for the regular price, replacing a power fist (no, you don't hold stuff with those fists )

Why is Baal Predator 110pts, while a regular Predator stands at 75pts (with overcharged engines)? I feel like this is an oversight on the pricing, because I don't think that the upgrade from autocannon to TL assault cannon is really worth the 35pts when TL lascannon is only 15pts. I think the Baal Predator's cost should be further cut (95-100pts) to be more in line with the regular predator, unless it was given back Scout USR. Even then the price difference feels a bit steep.

On another note, I think either Baal Predator or Storm Raven should be moved from HS to FA to give more options on the FA choices, especially now that the Assult Marines were moved back to the Troops section.

I'm not sure how the Command Squads will be handled in the coming marine codices, but I feel like they should be available 1/HQ choice without taking a slot, like they used to. Not that they'd be an overly used unit anyway, but now they compete with the rest of the army's great melee infantry, and the whole lot better Chapter Banner toters, the Sanguinary Guard.

Also techmarines could be made "slotless" HQ choices again in the marine codices, maybe 0-2/3 per detachment. HQ choice with 1W just doesn't seem appropriate for a full slot.

Should Scout Sergeants be given access to all the special pistols instead of just plasma, as the heavy flamer was freed up to all units able to choose from heavy weapons? Also, regarding heavy flamer, I think it might be wise to restrict them to a 0-1 upgrade for tactical squads, as otherwise the upgrade completely invalidates the regular flamer upgrade for the unit. Sternguards are okay with that I think, and Devastators could turn out to be pretty interesting choice with 4 heavy flamers when podded at the enemy (might want to exclude them from Devastators, or?).

I would also like to address some of the Blood Angels' relics:

In the light of your points revision, I believe that the Valour's Edge (AP2 power sword) should cost 15pts instead of 20pts, as the lowered AP is only worth 5pts while the sword itself is currently 15pts, as opposed to your suggested 10pts. Or maybe make the sword MC at 20pts.

Also, as you see jump packs worth 10pts instead of current 15pts, I would see a point in bringing Angel's Wings down to 20pts from 25pts.

As the worst offender in the relics section of the codex, I think that the Fury of Baal (MC plasma pistol with no gets hot! USR) is in need of big change at 25pts. Would it be too good if it was a MC inferno pistol with 12" (or 9") range at 20pts, as you suggest 10pts base for the inferno pistols? I don't feel plasma fits BA that well, feels more like a DA relic to me as it is currently (plasma relic + it is bad ).

There's a few relics in need of tweaking in the Shield of Baal: Exterminatus too, on the BA side I think - but let's stick to the codices now.

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I may come up with other thoughts for this and other balance erratas. Hopefully my "re-balancing" suggestions are at least somewhat sensible. Also, sorry for the long post.